Bolivia > The Uros reed islands

Bolivia - Border crossing between Bolivia and Peru

We can sleep in because the bus to Peru doesn’t leave until half past nine. First, I pack my luggage and then have a proper breakfast. At half past nine, the transport to the border arrives: one car and one Toyota minibus. It’s going to be cramped. Six people can fit in the car and fifteen in the minibus. Then we find out that two of the driver’s children also need to come along. The door barely closes. However, the minibus can’t make it up the hill in front of the hotel. Half the group has to walk to the main road, which helps! With a lot of gas, the minibus gets moving. Packed full, we drive about fifteen minutes to the Bolivia–Peru border. The luggage is transferred onto handcarts and taken across the border. Meanwhile, we go to Bolivian immigration. After filling out the necessary forms and receiving stamps, we walk toward the Peruvian border. Here we fill out another visa form, get stamped, and eventually everyone is in Peru—except Kristina. She has issues with her visa on the Bolivian side. While we wait, we use the time to exchange money and buy our first souvenirs. Eventually, Kristina crosses the border as well. Around ten o’clock—it’s one hour earlier in Peru, so the border delay has been nicely offset—we drive to Puno. After two and a half hours, we approach Puno.

Bolivia - All together in the boat on the Uros Islands (floating reed islands)

At the hotel, we are welcomed with coca tea. Kristina gives some advice on restaurants for lunch, but we can’t find them, so we just eat at a small restaurant on the main street. Around half past two, we gather for the excursion to the floating reed islands. The ride to the harbor is in nine pedicabs—very funny! Along the way, the cyclists try to get ahead. Luckily, the route mostly goes downhill, so it’s not too difficult. We arrive at the boat without any problems. In just over half an hour, we sail to the Uros Islands. Meanwhile, the guide explains the history of Lake Titicaca, mentioning that the name comes from “Poema.” He also points out that the lake supposedly has the shape of a “Poema” (with a lot, lot of imagination…). At the reed island, the guide explains how the island works and shows us that the reeds are edible. I try one—it doesn’t really taste like anything. The tour around the island is a mix of an open-air museum and a tourist market. It’s amusing to walk on the reeds; when you jump, you can feel the ground shake (not everyone around me finds this funny). We take a reed dragon boat to a second island. With some squeezing, we all fit on one boat (it’s just like a Toyota).

Bolivia - All materials are made of reed on the Uros Islands

The gondolier paddles us across, and just before docking, he passes around a bag for his tip. The second island is similar to the first and also very touristy. We take a few more photos and return on our original boat to Puno. Fortunately, two minibuses are now ready to bring us back to our hotel in the center. The Cathedral is open, so we take a quick visit there. In the evening, we eat on the main street. We see an appealing tourist menu, but inside it is “finished.” The alternative fish meal tastes great. During dinner, we are treated to live Peruvian music on stage.